News
Stakeholders Bemoan Poor Implementation Of FOI Act
The great expectations and excitement that heralded the eventual signing into law of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) by President Goodluck Jonathan two years ago are fast giving way for disappointment due to impediments militating against its practical implementation.
At the 5th Annual lecture series organised Friday in Port Harcourt by the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), lecturers and journalists who participated in the event, expressed worry over the unexpected turn of events as they seek how best Nigerians, especially journalists, could take advantage of the law for improved service delivery to the Nigerian society.
In his lecture titled, “Journalism Practice and the Constitutional Demands On Journalism – An X-Ray of the FOI Act,” Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon Seriake Dickson, On Research and Documentation and Social Media, Dr Idumage John, identified culture of secrecy, poor record keeping, ignorance of journalists and existence of conflicting laws and national security as major factors working against proper implementation of the law.
Enforcement of FOI, he said, is vitiated in a society where culture of secrecy has traditionally surrounded information about government hence it would be difficult to get information from any Ministry, Department or Agency.
The lecturer, who is a fellow of many institutes, also noted that existence of conflicting laws and national security are other daunting challenges to effective implementation of the FOI Act in Nigeria.
He mentioned Official Secret Act, the Evidence Act, the Public Compliant Act, the Statistics Act, amongst others, as laws contradicting the FOI Act, and suggesting reconciliation of the contradicting laws for effective implementation of the FOI Act.
In his presentation, the Head of Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Walter Ihejirika remarked that though no democracy can survive and thrive without the work of journalists he regretted the poor remuneration of journalists in Nigeria, which he described as pitiable.
“This leads to the problem of scrambling for financial crumbs falling from the table of the rich and powerful,” aid the don.
The impact of the journalists poor situation he said, is a challenge, if not a threat, to professionalism, since according to him, it promotes the brown envelop syndrome. The poor state of journalists in the country, Dr Idumanga John said also threatens proper implementation of FOI as he queried, “How many journalists can conjure the courage to invest their meagure pays in protracted litigations in their efforts to compel institutions to produce information that have overriding public interest.” The UNIPORT don also identified ignorance on the part of journalists as another factor responsible for poor implementation of the FOI Act.
In his paper titled, “Journalism Practice and the Constitutional Demands on Journalists,” Dr Ihejirika disclosed that a survey on 300 journalists in Port Harcourt on the implementation of FOI Act showed that only 89, which represents 31 per cent, have applied for information under the Act.
“Some of the journalists do not even know how to apply for the information, neither do they know what to do when information is denied,” he said and suggested proper and regular training for journalists.
Among the factors limiting the functional role of journalists in a nascent democracy, he said include problem of ownership, and professionalisation in the media industry.
At the end, most journalists who participated praised IIJ, Port Harcourt Centre for organising the programme in view of the immense benefit derivable, and agreed that there is urgent need for the grey areas on the FOI to be cleared and conflicting laws either repealed or amended so as to make best out of the law.
Co-ordinator of Port Harcourt Centre of IIJ, Mr Ibituru Pepple commended participants and promised that the lecture would remain an annual event while urging students to take advantage of the lecture series to improve their knowledge.
Chris Oluoh
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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